Sri Lanka House Speaker Says Rajapaksa Must Prove Majority

The comments by Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya deepen a political standoff since October 26, when President Maithripala Sirisena fired Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed Rajapaksa in his place.

The speaker of Sri Lanka's suspended parliament said on Monday he would not accept former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime minister unless Rajapaksa proves he has the backing of a majority of lawmakers.

"I have to agree with the majority of parliament who believe that the president's actions are undemocratic, unconstitutional and against all norms of parliamentary procedure", added Jayasuriya, who is originally from Wickremesinghe's United National Party but holds a neutral position in parliament. "As such I have to recognize the status quo which prevailed before until the new party would be able to prove their majority", Jayasuriya said, making it clear that he wants a parliamentary floor test.